OREANDA-NEWS. March 29, 2012. Citibank (China) Co. Ltd. ("Citi") and Humana People to People ("HPP"), announced the launch of a new initiative known as "Citi-HPP Wanzhou Rural Small Enterprise Development Program", implemented by HPP in cooperation with the Wanzhou District Poverty Alleviation and Development Office. The program will take place in Wanzhou, a district of the city of Chongqing. Made possible by a Citi Foundation grant, the program aims to provide small and growing household enterprises in the district with technical and practical training on sustainable agricultural production and animal husbandry, with the objective of increasing farmers' income levels while generating "triple bottom-line" economic, environmental and social benefits, reported the press-centre of Citibank.

Wang Li, Director of Citizenship for Citi China, said, "Citi is committed to playing an active role in supporting local communities around China where we can make a difference. We are delighted to be assisting small enterprises in Wanzhou and we believe this project's capacity building nature and its community driven approach will bring sustained benefits for the program participants."

Training will initially be conducted by external agricultural experts to the farming instructors selected from 17 villages in Wanzhou. These instructors will then act as trainers for approximately 1,200 rural household enterprises, amounting to around 4,500 residents who are low-income, lack access to capital, agricultural techniques and management skills. This second-phase training sessions will be organized on a monthly basis at 17 farmer's clubs established by the participating villages. It is expected that through their newly acquired skills, farmers will be able to increase their income through professionalizing and scaling up agricultural production and animal husbandry that have proven most profitable under local conditions, introducing new farming methods and products, increasing community engagement and ownership, as well as promoting the need for a sustainable environment.

Mr. Michael Hermann, Country Representative for FAIHPP China, said, "China has 128 million rural poor and poverty alleviation faces great challenges as more than 200 million rural younger laborers have left the harsh agricultural conditions in mountainous areas as migrant workers. Left behind elders, women and children struggle to improve their livelihood and development perspectives. This program pilots community driven initiatives of smallholder income generating activities and provides valuable lessons of decentralized poverty alleviation work for the future. We are grateful to Citi, the Wanzhou District government, Baitu and Puzi township government and village volunteers for their enthusiasm, guidance and support to these 17 communities."

The geography of Wanzhou rural area is characterized by high and steep mountains, hills and poor soil, which make farming extremely difficult. Under the initiative, farmers will learn how to improve the scope and quality of agricultural production and animal husbandry, and enhance the production skills and marketing capability that enabling them to create needed communal wealth. The monthly training will include theory, field practice and visiting to other farmers. Training will also encompass sustainable agriculture techniques, such as improving soil and product quality through soil and water conservation techniques, decreasing common animal diseases, and developing marketing and sales skills of distributing agricultural and animal products.